Lionel Goujelon, edited by Gauthier Delomez 07:18, September 18, 2021
The mythical train of the adventures of Agatha Christie is revealed to the public on the occasion of the Heritage Days in Lille.
Symbol of luxury and French travel, this train was also modern in its time.
The visits will be linked throughout this weekend.
It's a legendary train that stops at Lille-Flandres station this weekend.
The Orient Express, star of Agatha Christie's novels, is revealed to the public on the occasion of Heritage Days.
Its cars were the symbol of luxury and French travel.
During these two days, guided tours are organized in small groups.
Visitors go back up the train of this jewel of railway heritage by crossing the cars, in the luxurious armchairs.
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"It's quite exceptional", exclaims one of the enthusiasts of this train.
"The beauty quite simply, the seats and the decoration, it's still quite impressive," she continues.
The Orient Express is made up of seven cars, four of which are classified as Historical Monuments.
It is above all a cult and cultural object inscribed in our memories thanks to cinema and literature.
"The Orient Express is all my childhood"
"There was Agatha Christie, magnificent films also that we see again with pleasure", comments one of the visitors.
"The Orient Express is all childhood too when you have your first electric train."
Privileged passengers discover the different wagons of this legendary train, in particular the dining car, the bar with its piano.
Visitors also appreciate a compartment decorated with Art Deco marquetry.
Another slightly nostalgic travel philosophy.
"Today, we have the impression that everything is going too fast. When we are on this train, we say to ourselves that we could take the time. And the trip was undoubtedly much more pleasant than what we can live today! ”smiles a new passenger.
A train at the top of modernity
Arthur Mettetal, in charge of the Orient Express tours, underlines the modernity of this legendary train.
"In the historical context of the time, it makes it possible to eliminate the stops, it goes very quickly. At the time, it is a modern way of traveling with technologies which are at the cutting edge in the period when the train is commissioned."
Progress that was certainly not shared by all.
One more reason for Lille visitors to feel privileged during Heritage Days.